MS-67+ Red 1911 Lincoln Cent, One Of Two Finest Known, Brings $15,243.75

I agree with the remarks by basebal21. In particular, a coin can't really cost "too much." It is a platitude, but anything is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. (Preservation of capital is a separate matter, of course!) As noted, I find the quest for conditional rarities to be fascinating, and certainly a valid collecting mode, even if I can't afford to "play." My area of interest is Lincolns, and I would love to find an opportunity to get a "best of date," even if it's an unremarkable date. I came close on a couple of auctions, but the goodies don't usually escape notice of experts in a way that you can sneak out with a bargain. Regarding grading, that's an interesting topic, too. Is the difference between at 67+ and a 68 discernable? I would argue that it is, but no one would dispute that it can be very subtle, and there is an unavoidable subjective element.

Many of them post on another forum for the top guys in their sets. The top sets very rare just chase any old number. That doesn't mean grading was happening that way either, but the top sets overall are VERY picky about what they put into it. The blind buying really happens at the low end level with a type set where someone says I don't really like this series this is good enough. That's fine and I'm not being demeaning, but people don't say I'm going to double or triple plus price guide for a registry bump if they don't like the coin.

That's what so many miss, these people do it because they love the coin and love what they're collecting. It annoys me for people to belittle them just because they have more money when that is all relative. Most of the world would say one of us is insane for spending 50 bucks on a Quarter, it's no different they just have more means. Being rich doesn't mean you can't love collecting or be passionate about it and some of the most passionate and knowledgeable posts I have seen about various series have come from well off collectors.

There has been so much negativity on various coin forums and it's just worn me out. Centsei made some very good points in the thread, I just do not understand why some feel the need to try and bring others down especially when you look at it its a collector using their means to get something they love

@baseball
What you say makes sense in that if these people are posting online reasons other than just wanting a top notch set, then we can easily see the motives they have.

Although I also think its important for people to understand that assigning motives and calling it fact is utter foolishness. Nowadays, especially in the younger generation, people are being taught that disagreement automatically indicates belittling when nothing is further from fact.

Since I do not know exactly which specific negative (or allegedly negative - I have not seen them to judge) remarks you are referring to, I know I am not qualified, nor do I wish to waste time going back and looking for all the comments you mention.

I am saying that I think there is evidence enough in known human nature for it to be legitimate in saying some of these people are just buying a label to have a "first place." It is their money and the way they do things (ego or not is up to the individual).

And I think its also just as legit to say some people are buying b/c they like what they see, money is no object, and they get more pleasure out of the here and now rather than investment or being concerned about loss.

But to say one group of these people is the norm is misleading to self and others if there are/are not verifiable stats to back it up.

I guess overall what I am saying is that to keep this forum worthy of being called educational, we all (myself included) need to understand our own desires/opinions are not the absolute fact when discussing a topic such as this.

When a newbies sees opinions as facts from the "forum experts" (as they might see people here) they can be unintentionally misled.

That's not what he said at all, stop putting words in people mouths...

To say that thinking someone paid a ludicrous amount for a coin that happens to be almost unnoticeably different than other others is jealous is just laughable.

I agree that the person who bought this coin should not be belittled because of the price they played for the coin THEY wanted. But at the same time people should be able to discuss this recent sale how they see it, that's kind of one of the reasons of having a thread like this.



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As to my opinion on this, its a nice coin, not something I would spend $15,000 on, but a nice coin and I hope whoever bought it enjoys it.

What happens to this coin when grading standards change or a new grading system is adopted? Do you start to count the bag marks? I think we should just get rid of the numbers and go with adjectives...UNC...Choice...Gem.

KK

Why because someone thinks so or disagrees seeing a picture?

This is what drives me crazy, the holder is a reelection of the coin. It's not some random here lets make this the best event nor do people chase it for no reason.

It was graded the way it was for a reason, people knowingly wanted it at a big price for a reason, why do people have to try and insist the buyers don't care about the coin?

When you consider how few early Lincolns are of this quality the price actually seems reasonable. If I could afford the $15k price tag I'd buy it too.

Wow! Nice picture

@baseball



I want to make sure you know you have assigned motivation to my words and gotten angry for nothing.

Like many young people nowadays (think Millenials), it seems the education system you went through trained you towards seeing anything that does not agree with your opinions as an attack at worst, or negative at best.

Allowing passions (a good thing) to get in the way first *before* responding is folly. This concept also explains why you indirectly have accused my post as an insult to the bidders. BTW - I have thick skin - this is not upsetting to me as I see it like I did with students who were of similar mindset until they learned the following basics of good communication and knew how to make legitimate statements:

1. Don't assume motivations of others - its foolish.
2. Don't assume attitude where one is not specifically stated - emotions are impossible to determine in typing - and its foolish
3. Using superlatives is foolish without data to back it up.
4. Don't take things out of context (picking and choosing parts of my post - I said "all the more power to them" if this is how they enjoy the hobby."

It is a good thing you have stopped relying on self-defeating ad hominem responses.

We all, myself included, are here to learn and offer *legitimate* opinions/information so others can learn as well. I think specifically of newbies.

Final post on this. Best wishes to all and I hope this post can help us all for the educational benefit of everyone here.
edited for clarification.